Local instructor nominated for presidential award in teaching

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SANDPOINT — Becky Charvoz has a sign in her office at Farmin-Stidwell Elementary: “Every problem has a solution. You just have to find it.”

That mindset has been a major influence in Charvoz’s 13 years of teaching math to mostly third-grade students, and it’s a big reason why her mentor, Kathy Prummer, wanted to nominate her for one of teaching’s highest honors.

Charvoz, who is now in her eleventh year at Farmin-Stidwell, is one of three state finalists for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.

The awards, which are administered by the National Science Foundation through the office of the president, is the highest honor for teachers in kindergarten through twelfth grade in science, technology, engineering and math.

“I really am excited about the opportunity to be a finalist, because it does bring some focus to the work that the Lake Pend Oreille School District has been doing over the last five to seven years with a strong emphasis in math,” Charvoz said.

As a teacher, Prummer said, Charvoz stands out for her dedication to students and her own willingness to learn and adapt.

“Not everybody is able and willing to make themselves vulnerable to completely change their practice when they're a veteran teacher,” Prummer said. “About every three weeks is when I would work with her. She had changed during that time, and just had an openness and a willingness to continue growing. And that is what makes an absolutely exceptional teacher.”

Prummer first started working with Charvoz in 2013, she said, as part of a math leadership team to do the work of transitioning the school district from the old math standards and materials to the new Idaho Content Standards, and selecting potential materials for students to use.

“We hand-selected the teachers for this team,” Prummer wrote in her letter of recommendation to the PAEMST committee.”From the very first meeting, Becky rose to the top, even in a group of what we had considered to be the district's best.”

Before becoming a teacher, Charvoz worked in lending, she said. She began volunteering with the school when her three sons were attending, she said, which is where she got the idea to get a teaching certificate.

“I did that for several years and often got the question, ‘Well, where do you teach?’” she said. “That kind of got me thinking, well, maybe I should have, you know, gone into education.”

Having raised her children before becoming a teacher gave her a unique perspective, Charvoz said, and switching careers allowed her to do more of what she loved — connecting with people.

For Charvoz, her relationship with students is one of the most rewarding parts of her job, she said.

“Seeing the growth that happens, and seeing stamina that is built, and the display of perseverance, once kids in third grade, you know, they can really grasp what those character traits are,” she said. “Watching kids, you know, develop in that way, and nurture them through that relationship. To me, that's, that's the best part of this job.”

One of the things that makes Charvoz unique as a teacher, Prummer said, is how she finds ways to help each child with their individual needs.

“She has the ability to see where every child is in on any given day,” Prummer said. “As a middle school teacher [myself], you have 100, 120 kids. And, and sometimes it's easy to see them kind of as this group. And Becky taught me to see every single child.”

Charvoz’s ability to build perseverance in her students is also inspiring, Prummer said. Charvoz often chooses to work with students who are struggling, but still finds a way to motivate them and instill confidence.

“Although they are only in the third grade, I have seen Becky’s ENTIRE class persevere through difficult problem-solving for nearly 90 minutes and express their disappointment when Becky tells them the math class is over,” Prummer wrote. “This happens consistently.”

Many of the students Charvoz taught, some of who are now in college, have stayed in touch, she said. Most years, students she taught years ago will still visit her.

“I have had kids come back and say, ‘Look, I'm having a hard time finding somebody that can talk to you. Do you have a few minutes?’ Well, of course I do. And so then we chat,” Charvoz said. “Maybe I'm just that listening ear that, that they need, so I always try to, when my third graders depart, say, ‘Look, I'm always here for you.’”